#haha go with the flow

[splickedylit]

You can't fight the role the Mother had in store for you

[iwritenarrativesandstuff]

Ok, I think I have a pretty good idea of why a lot of Akechi's dialogue is... like that.

So, even before his confidant truly started, I noticed that he has a real knack for directing the flow of a conversation. This is very fitting for someone who is both a detective and skilled at interviews - when there is a topic and a goal, Akechi is in his element.

All this to say, he's actually kind of controlling when it comes to conversational flow. He probes for information, or turns the conversation around to a particular topic, usually the Phantom Thieves. He manages to take a few of Joker's dialogue options and spin them so they sound mildly incriminating in the context he's placed them in - the only way to truly get around this is to pick answers that feign indifference, and even then, that's more than a bit telling. He's clearly very good at this kind of thing.

But then, we get conversations where either Joker does something he didn't expect, or else he doesn't have a particular goal in mind - and the conversation stutters. In the first instance, Joker does something (a particularly egregious example is putting his glasses on him and fluffing his hair in rank 3) which both leaves him wrong-footed and no longer in perfect control of the situation. He just kind of... freezes, for awhile. It's hilarious. He has no idea how to respond.

He picks up control again in the phone call afterwards, having chosen to play into it, turning this "fooling the crowds" into a kind of game or secret between them. Nice save.

But in instances where there isn't an obvious topic and the goal is somewhat nebulous, for instance, that one Leblanc scene, it becomes pretty apparent that Akechi doesn't have the right "script" to go off of. Again, it's particularly notable in that scene, because I'm fairly sure he didn't have any specific reason to be at Leblanc, other than him looking for a quiet spot now that public opinion has turned on him. And because there isn't anything specific he's digging for, he kind of just ends up throwing things at the wall to see what will stick. Probing for any kind of recognizable reaction that he can jump on and work with, and that just doesn't really happen in this scene.

He references Sae, a woman in a respectable position, to Sojiro, but instead of that netting a welcome, it earns his ire, given Sae's recent actions against him. He then tries to greet Joker, his... rival? friend? enemy? person who at least seems to somewhat enjoy spending time with him? But Joker's responses are somewhat short, and Akechi practically wilts. He tries to commiserate by oversharing. He tries to involve Futaba and reaches out for the only topic of interest he can think of around "young people". He compliments the coffee. He compliments Joker. He tries to invoke that connection between them. None of it is really sticking, nor does it serve as a jumping off point for him to steer the conversation, or even really start one.

So, he basically just ends up having a one-sided chat with himself and then leaves. Hilarious. Also a little sad, if I'm being honest. It's really giving "guy with no friends who only knows how to speak to adults" energy. If there's no specific purpose to the exchange, or he is not in control of its direction, he seems to be kind of out of his depth. He succeeds only in being a little awkward and confusing, more than anything.

[ghoulgeists]

the first half of my december comms! i'm still working on the last half lol but they'll be done soon too :3 thank you to everyone who let me draw your funny guys <3

[iceclew]

Wirst die falschen Freunde haben Die die Wahrheit Dir nicht sagen! Und am Ende ganz allein So furchtbar anders sein!

Anders Sein kann auch bedeuten Sich nicht jedes Mal zu häuten Wenn der Wind sich einmal dreht Schmerzhaft ins Gesicht Dir weht!

Nach dem eig'nen Weg zu suchen Auch einmal für and're bluten! Nicht die Augen zu verschließen Und den Gegenwind genießen!

Listened to this song in bed at the very convenient hour of 4am (listen I'm having some days of, and my sleep scedule gave up like on the first day, ok) and suddenly I had a real urge to draw Kafka's Kaiju form… Then this morning the postman woke me up to bring me the new tips for my graphics tablet pen, so I basically had to do it, right? (૮ ˙ ﻌ˙ ა no more scratching on the surface! yay! )

[whentherewerebicycles]

god I love my little baby so much. he’s just started singing back to me when I sing to him, ie cooing really energetically in (sort of) harmony with me with SO much joy in his expression. if you stop singing he will try to get you to start again by coo-singing to you and then watching you intently to see if you’re picking up what he’s putting down. he has also learned how to hold his favorite rattle toy in both hands and also how to confidently bring it to his mouth to taste the plastic and then how to throw it away from himself when he’s had quite enough, thank you. he just continues to be the sweetest, most even-tempered little boy. he loves to hang but is also totally content to kick around out on the deck treegazing and talking to himself. I was pretty sure I’d love having a baby but I kind of thought there would be more caveats slash things where I was like “obviously I love him so much, but…” but there’s just no but. he rocks and it rocks to know him. he’s my little guy. I’m having so much fun.

[vaguely-concerned]

*fully sweating bullets and thousand yard staring into space as the king of hearts starts to talk about losing the person you love and what you'd be willing to do to get them back* this better not be fUCKING thematic foreshadowing for what this story is meant to head towards eventually (I say, with little hope and great trepidation). we're just going to be thematically microdosing on that in the main krew right folks. no one's going to be lost forever. right??!?!

(though I must admit that the idea of some of them dying and being brough back because that is someone else's heart's desire -- because 'what would even be the point of being given anything else, if you aren't here with me' -- would render me fully incapable of being normal ever again and forever goodnight)

[sysig]

Destined to lose an eye in every timeline (Patreon)

Bonus alt:

[alexiethymia]

you like her as a ‘friend’? you sure about that buddy, you really sure about that?

[true-blue-sonic]

Out of curiosity: do you ship Sonilver and Espilver in different "timelines", as it were? Or do they overlap, somehow, like maybe Silver fell for Sonic first before settling with Espio? (I just think it would be funny if Sonic and Espio both talked about their experiences with Silver and how they see each other XD I doubt they'd be the jealous types, thankfully)

Different timelines/universes, indeed ^-^ I very much multi-ship: baby's first Sonic ship was Silvaze and I still really like that one, and I also like Sonamy, and I think Silvamy and Sonaze are cute... XD But the main ship that I really got engaged with through creating things of my own was Espilver, with Sonilver now sharing that place as well. For the others I'm definitely a lot more casual of a shipper, haha!

Quite a while ago when I was first treading into Sonilver I got an ask discussing how Sonic could be many people's First Crush™️, and I remember finding that idea very funny (since it'd also include Espio who'd be quite a bit embarrassed to say so to Silver, lol). Iirc the idea there was that Silver then indeed first fell for Sonic and then afterwards for Espio, with Espilver as the endgame. Awwww, but Sonic and Espio would have so many nice things to say about Silver <3 I think Silver as a boyfriend would be characterised most by how passionate he is in the relationship: he's there for his beloved, and he's protective and attentive and not at all afraid to share the fact he's in love with this specific person he has by his side, no matter who it is. It's traits I think both Sonic and Espio really appreciate in someone, so they've got plenty of kind words for Silver and just how much of a sweetheart he is! But indeed, both Sonic and Espio don't strike me as jealous types: for the both of them I think it'd be most important that the person they're in love with is happy. And thus, they can accept it if that happiness is found with someone else, and not them. But to be quite honest, that's not really the kinda plot I'm interested in (I'm not big on the heartbreak and hurt feelings XD), so that's why I don't ship Espilver and Sonilver as if it were happening in the same universe ^-^

[tianhuovirus]

It is going to slowly replace every single object in the research facility with a glass of pilk

[reallyhardy]

Loren, have you started watching Scott Pilgrim Takes Off!? I'm on episode 5 rn, interested in your thoughts if you have started watching

YES hello!

i thought it was brilliant! i loved the subversion of expectation (i mean i WOULD deffo have been happy to sit there any just watch The Story I Know yet again, but it was SO exciting when i realised they were doing something different.) i love love LOVED the animation, all the action sequences looked so fantastic, and... i loved the addition of the sparks ✨ i thought it was SO so cute. SPOILERSSSS below:

i thought will forte playing older/even older scott was a fantastic choice (channelling phil tandy miller from the last man on earth for sure)

i also adored the scene with kim and knives bonding through music, and all of knives becoming part of the band... the whole thing with todd and wallace was absolutely nuts...

i thought it was nice expanding on all the exes stories and having ramona go in and make up with (most of) them. the story with roxie was particularly good and had me tearing up! and i was absolutely sobbing by the end of the series haha although i think a lot of it had to do with the nostalgic angle for me and how much i'd loved the movie as a teen hahaha and then having the story come back for a third time in my life in a way that felt kinder and more redemptive was really something.

at first i was sad they didn't get into things like steven being gay but then i realised... ofc with it ending in a similar place 'let's try this' but also really it actually ended chronologically not long after the original story starts... it had me realise oh actually there's still so much possiblity for these characters and their lives. they could still have a lot of those adventures and discoveries that happen in the later comics even if we don't see them, it ends on the hopeful note that lets you know they're all going to try, even in the face of knowing that it Could All Go Wrong as shown by older scott & ramona's story, that there is always hope and they may as well give it a shot. BUT i also thought that part with Ultimate Ramona saying "i'm probably going to struggle with this later, so let me tell you this now, i love you" IDKKK i know to that-timeline scott that's early af but to ultimate ramona it's a real present thing since she's got all of that knowledge and history inside her. ANYWAY MADE ME EMOTIONAL also loved the visual reference to the kiss from the end of ponyo :')

.............ramona RE-BLEACHING and dyeing her hair THAT much was absolutely insane though 🤣 i've seen ppl say 'WITH A DEVELOPER BASE!?' too although I PERSONALLY believe she was maybe. mixing with conditioner. that's the only thing i could think of that would make it even remotely acceptable to bleach it that much (but also its a cartoon so ofc not realistic haha)

also i THOROUGHLY enjoyed the nicholas angel & danny butterman cameos 🤣 i was like wait why are these two security guards english.....? oh wait. oh okay. i see.

[suddencolds]

~

[ciderjacks]

argh. This comic writing is taking me way longer than usual. I keep editing things and it doesn’t feel right.

[pb-s-corner]

Kaibutsu cosplay jumpscare

This was the cosplay I wore at today's school festival. A big shout out to my good friend Luna and Esperanza for the make up ❤️

[good-beanswrites]

My english lyrics for Triage woo! (They're written out under the cut, I just wanted to share my lil chart lol)

Though I'm too indecisive to officially label this as my favorite song, it's had the strongest emotional impact on me by far. It holds a special place in my heart, I definitely wanted to write lyrics for it first! I'll leave all my rambling process commentary in the tags, but I was so happy with how it came out!!

All of those cards of promise thrown down carelessly,

This must be retribution for all I've taken endlessly.

If that were the case, it should have been fate for me to die.

That's the truth, given my crime, so why--?

No, I can't take it, to this cruel joke I'll submit. You

don't know, you can't know, but I'm ready to admit:

Killing for them, extracting for them, won't change the fact they're dead.

I need someone to tag me as RED.

It makes me sick (sick), it's too unpleasant. Sick (sick)

Is this punishment? What do you mean I'm INNOCENT?

I see, the world is cruel and leaves you on your own.

(I can't die) to atone. (I can't love) alone.

I can't be saved (saved), you've nothing to give. Saved (saved)

But what if I lived? Why else would you choose to forgive?

I see, there's lives to save so let's be sensible.

Right now, you need me, (I can be) indispensable.

Tilt to and fro, I know the scales should land on GUILTY for me.

Tilt fro and to, it's INNOCENT that they choose.

They cry (x4) out in pain, I can hear them. There's no one else, to guard their health,

My mission is offering help.

All of those cards of promise thrown down carelessly,

This must be retribution for all I've taken endlessly.

So if that's the case, then it must be fate to make amends,

Extract that fang before we meet the end.

It makes me sick (sick), it's too unpleasant. Sick (sick)

Is this punishment? What do you mean I'm INNOCENT?

I see, the world is cruel, but what I've realized is

(Now I want) to be INNOCENT. (Now I want) to live.

It makes me sick (sick), This wasn't my plan, hostages at my command.

Their future resting in my hands

I see, there's lives to save so let's be sensible.

Right now, please save me, (I will be) indispensable.

Maybe this was meant to be -- oh  -- or maybe neither of us can know

There's lives to save so let's be sensible.

Right now, please save me, (I will be) indispensable.

---

I mentioned earlier that I always get annoyed with myself when people post translyrics and I can't figure out the rhythm they were going for, so here's a recording of me singing, but I'm bad at it! It's just for fun! Like a rough draft for music! Because the only thing worse than people hearing my voice is people thinking I can't count syllables!

[silverselfshippingchaos]

i hate to say it but this is the first thing i did as soon as he joined the party